Updating to correct second last graf. Shld read: The Minister of Federal Territories…
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13: A group of traders today protested against what they say has been an unfair allocation of the annual Deepavali bazaar lots near Kota Raya in Brickfields here to newcomers while leaving out more than 20 regular traders from the areas.
Speaking at a press meet, Gunaseelan Subramaniam, who represented the group, said this year, the application for bazaar lots in the area was opened online and many newcomers had applied for the lots.
“For these small time traders, the Deepavali festive period is a highlight for their businesses and it is highly disappointing that more than 20 in the group have not been allocated any lots.
“While it may not matter if chances are given to new traders, DBKL should have still given priority to those who have been putting up their wares for the last 20 years in the area during the festive period. This is the period, the traders earn good income.
“Some of them have even bought their materials earlier, not knowing that they would not get the lots as usual.
“Only 11 out of 37 of our traders have been given lots. We don’t understand how this can happen.”
Meanwhile, some of the traders also wondered if the newcomers who have been given the lots were even from the Brickfields area.
One affected trader who usually sells murukku, said many foreigners were also seen selling their goods outside the bazaar during last year’s Deepavali.
He claimed there were small set-ups near the former football field area, where the yearly Deepavali bazaar used to take place. There are now high rise apartments in the football field, which also served as a recreation centre for many growing up in Brickfields.
He also said he did not get a lot last year and ended up renting a space in a nearby complex for which he paid a lot while the traffic of shoppers hardly made up for his expenses.
According to Shila, who also expressed disappointment with the new system of online application, said many of the Brickfields area traders did not even know about the new system.
“They have been inching away our area slowly, and new buildings, new way of doing things are taking away what we have had in this area in the past,” she lamented.
The Minister of Federal Territories Zaliha Mustafa had promised the group that they would be given the lots directly this year, following a similar situation last year, but this did not happen.
“All we want is a lot in the area to sell our Deepavali cookies,” said another disappointed trader, Malini.
–WE